Vehicle table device and method of controlling virtual keyboard thereof

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle table device that is extracted toward a driver or a passenger to place foods or books thereon for a simple meal or reading, and a method of controlling a virtual keyboard thereof. The method includes: determining a state of a table accommodated inside a housing by a controller; determining a position of a monitor by the controller when, in the determining of the state of the table, the table is determined to be extracted from the housing; and activating a virtual keyboard on the table by the controller when, in the determining of the position of the monitor, the monitor is determined to be located on a passenger seat side.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2020-0117193, filed on Sep. 11, 2020, the disclosureof which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a table accommodated in a dashboard ofa vehicle and relates to a vehicle table device that is extracted towarda driver or a passenger to place foods or books thereon for a simplemeal or reading, and a method of controlling a virtual keyboard thereof.

2. Discussion of Related Art

In general, dashboards are mounted in front of a driver's seat and apassenger's seat of a vehicle, various instruments and switches of thevehicle are installed on the dashboard in front of the driver's seat,and a glove box for accommodating a simple object is installed on thedashboard in front of the passenger's seat.

Further, an audio system and the like are installed in a central portionbetween the dashboard in front of the driver's seat in which the variousinstruments are installed and the dashboard in front of the passenger'sseat in which the glove box is installed.

Meanwhile, in recent years, the number of vehicles equipped with a tabledevice on the dashboard in front of the passenger's seat is increasing.

Vehicle table devices may be used by a passenger boarded in thepassenger's seat for reading or business processing or are also used tosafely place food thereon and simply eat a meal inside the vehicle.

However, since the table provided in the vehicle is mounted on andextracted from a limited layout of the dashboard, the area of theextracted table is necessarily narrow.

As a result, when using the table, the passenger may feel uncomfortabledue to the relatively narrow area.

Further, when a vehicle crash occurs while the table provided inside thevehicle is extracted from the dashboard, an accident may occur due tothe table.

To this end, a method of weakening a table structure so that the tablemay be easily broken on collision is often applied, but the rigidity ofthe table is weakened due to this method.

Further, in the case of a table to which an actuator is applied andwhich is operated by an electric method, a method is also applied inwhich a slip device is provided so that, when a certain load or moreoccurs, the table is retracted without operating the actuator. However,in this structure, when a sudden stop/collision occurs in a state inwhich the table is retracted, the table is unintentionally extracted,which may cause injury to the passenger.

In addition, the conventional table provided in the existing vehicle mayserve as a simple table on which an object may be placed but may notsimultaneously perform a multimedia input device function.

In order for the table to perform the input device function, a switchfunction should be provided to the table, and in a state in which thefunction is provided, an input function unwanted by a user is activateddue to the object placed on the table.

SUMMARY OF

The present disclosure is directed to providing a vehicle table devicecapable of performing a multimedia input device function by selectivelyactivating a virtual keyboard in an upper part of a table, and a methodof controlling the same.

The above-described purpose, other purposes, advantages, and features ofthe present disclosure and a method of achieving the above-describedpurpose, other purposes, advantages, and features will become apparentwith reference to embodiments described below in detail together withthe accompanying drawings.

A vehicle table device includes a monitor that is coupled to a dashboardand configured to reciprocate between a passenger seat side region onthe dashboard and a center region of the dashboard, a housing that isaccommodated inside the dashboard and has an open front surface, a tablethat is accommodated in the housing and is selectively extracted from orretracted into the front surface of the housing, an operation memberthat is disposed between a bottom surface of the housing and the tableand configured to extract or retract the table from or into the housing,and a controller configured to activate or deactivate a virtual keyboardon an upper surface of the extracted table.

The controller may activate, on the table, a virtual keyboard on/offbutton for activating or deactivating the virtual keyboard on the tablewhen the table is extracted from the housing and the monitor is locatedon the passenger seat side.

The controller may activate the virtual keyboard on the table when thetable is extracted from the housing and the virtual keyboard on/offbutton is touched in a state in which the monitor is located on thepassenger seat side.

A method of controlling a virtual keyboard of a vehicle table deviceaccording to the present disclosure includes determining a state of atable accommodated inside a housing by a controller, determining aposition of a monitor by the controller when, in the determining of thestate of the table, the table is determined to be extracted from thehousing, and activating a virtual keyboard on the table by thecontroller when, in the determining of the position of the monitor, themonitor is determined to be located on a passenger seat side.

The determining of the state of the table may include determiningwhether the table is retracted into or extracted from the housing.

The determining of the position of the monitor may include determiningwhether or not the monitor is located between a driver seat side and thepassenger seat side on a dashboard or in a passenger seat side region.

The activating of the virtual keyboard on the table may includeactivating a virtual keyboard on/off button on the table by thecontroller, determining whether or not the virtual keyboard on/offbutton is touched, and deactivating the virtual keyboard on the tablewhen, in the determining of whether or not the virtual keyboard on/offbutton is touched, the virtual keyboard on/off button is determined tobe touched.

The determining of whether or not the virtual keyboard on/off button istouched includes determining whether to activate or deactivate thevirtual keyboard on the table.

The determining of the position of the monitor may include deactivatingthe virtual keyboard and the virtual keyboard on/off button by thecontroller when, in the determining of the position of the monitor, themonitor is determined to be located between the driver seat side and thepassenger seat side.

The activating may include implementing the virtual keyboard on an uppersurface of the table through an infrared ray of a projector.

An upper surface of the table may be configured as a touch screen.

A method of controlling a virtual keyboard of a vehicle table deviceincludes determining a state of a table accommodated in a housing by acontroller, determining a position of a monitor by the controller when,in the determining of the state of the table, the table is determined tobe extracted from the housing, activating a virtual keyboard on/offbutton on the table by the controller when, in the determining of theposition of the monitor, the monitor is determined to be located on apassenger seat side, determining whether or not the virtual keyboardon/off button is touched by the controller, and activating a virtualkeyboard on the table by controller when, in the determining of whetheror not the virtual keyboard on/off button is touched, the virtualkeyboard on/off button is determined to be touched.

The activating of the virtual keyboard on the table may includedetermining the position of the monitor by the controller, activatingthe virtual keyboard on/off button in an upper part of the table by thecontroller when, in the determining of the position of the monitor, themonitor is determined to be located between a driver seat side and thepassenger seat side, determining whether or not the virtual keyboardon/off button is touched, and deactivating the virtual keyboard and thevirtual keyboard on/off button by the controller when, in thedetermining of whether or not the virtual keyboard on/off button istouched, the virtual keyboard on/off button is determined to be touched.

The activating of the virtual keyboard on the table may further includedeactivating the virtual keyboard on/off button in the upper part of thetable by the controller when, in the determining of whether or not thevirtual keyboard is activated on the table, the virtual keyboard isdetermined to be deactivated on the table.

The determining of the position of the monitor may include deactivatingthe virtual keyboard and the virtual keyboard on/off button by thecontroller when, in the determining of the position of the monitor, themonitor is determined to be located between driver seat side and thepassenger seat side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle interior showing a position inwhich a vehicle table device according to a first embodiment of thepresent disclosure is mounted;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vehicle table device accordingto the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the vehicle tabledevice according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure isextracted from a garnish;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the vehicle table deviceaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is tiltedupward;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the vehicle table device according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an operation member of the vehicletable device according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view showing the operation member and atable of the vehicle table device according to the first embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing the table of the vehicle table deviceaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 10 to 12 are operational diagrams showing an operation process ofthe vehicle table device according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a vehicle table device accordingto a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a table in the vehicletable device according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a driving unit of the vehicletable device according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 16 is a front view showing a slip member and a driving pulley ofthe vehicle table device according to the second embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view showing an operation member and thetable of the vehicle table device according to the second embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are views showing a state in which the slip member slipswhile the table of the vehicle table device according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure is extracted from a housing;

FIGS. 20 to 22 are views showing a state in which a gear part isself-locked while the table of the vehicle table device according to thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure is retracted into a housing;

FIG. 23 is a schematic view of a vehicle interior showing a position inwhich a vehicle table device according to a third embodiment of thepresent disclosure is mounted;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing the vehicle table device accordingto the third embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 25 and 26 are flowcharts showing a method of controlling a virtualkeyboard of the vehicle table device according to the third embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIGS. 27 to 29 are schematic views showing a state in which the virtualkeyboard is activated or deactivated in the table for each situation ofthe vehicle table device according to the third embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIGS. 30 to 31 are flowcharts showing a method of controlling a virtualkeyboard of a vehicle table device according to a fourth embodiment ofthe present disclosure; and

FIGS. 32 and 33 are schematic views showing a state in which the virtualkeyboard is activated or deactivated in the table for each situation ofthe vehicle table device according to the fourth embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are provided to more completelydescribe the present disclosure to those skilled in the art, thefollowing embodiments may be modified into various other forms, and thescope of the present disclosure is not limited to the followingembodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make thisdisclosure more thorough and complete and completely transfer the spiritof the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Further, in thefollowing drawings, each component is exaggerated for convenience andclarity of description, and the same reference numerals refer to thesame components on the drawings. In the present specification, a term“and/or” includes any one and all combinations of one or more of thoselisted items.

Terms used herein are used to describe specific embodiments, not tolimit the present disclosure.

As used in the present specification, a singular form may include aplural form unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further,when used in the present specification, the terms “comprise” and/or“comprising” specify the presence of recited shapes, numbers, steps,actions, members, elements, and/or groups thereof, does not exclude thepresence or addition of one or more other shapes, numbers, actions,members, and elements and/or groups.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle interior showing a position inwhich a vehicle table device according to a first embodiment of thepresent disclosure is mounted, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing thevehicle table device according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which thevehicle table device according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure is extracted from a garnish, FIG. 4 is a side view showing astate in which the vehicle table device according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure is tilted upward, FIG. 5 is a planview showing the vehicle table device according to the first embodimentof the present disclosure, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing anoperation member of the vehicle table device according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 7 is a bottom perspectiveview showing the operation member and a table of the vehicle tabledevice according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG.8 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is abottom view showing the table of the vehicle table device according tothe first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, a vehicle table device according to a firstembodiment of the present disclosure is accommodated inside a dashboard400 including a garnish 500 having a flat upper surface.

The vehicle table device according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure includes a housing 100, a table 200, and an operationmember 300.

The housing 100 is accommodated in a lower region than the garnish 500inside the dashboard 400 and has an open front surface.

That is, the housing 100 has a bottom surface, an upper surface, twoside surfaces, and a rear surface that are sealed.

Meanwhile, in the drawings, in order to prevent the inside of thehousing 100 from being covered, it is shown that the upper surface isseparated or deleted, but the bottom surface constituting the housing100, the upper surface corresponding to the bottom surface, the two sidesurfaces connecting the bottom surface and the upper surface, and therear surface may be integrally formed.

The housing 100 has an internal space including a first accommodationspace 110 and a second accommodation space 120.

When the housing 100 is accommodated in the dashboard 400, the firstaccommodation space 110 is disposed in an interior direction (engineroom direction) of the dashboard 400.

The second accommodation space 120 is formed at one end (in a passengerdirection) of the first accommodation space 110, and the area of thesecond accommodation space 120 is large enough to accommodate the table200.

When the table 200 is retracted into the housing 100, the table 200 isaccommodated in the second accommodation space 120.

Further, the width of the first accommodation space 110 is smaller thanthe width of the second accommodation space 120.

Thus, stepped parts 130 are formed between two ends of the firstaccommodation space 110 and two ends of the second accommodation space120.

When the table 200 is accommodated in the second accommodation space120, the stepped parts 130 come into contact with the rear surface ofthe table 200.

Thus, when the table 200 that has been extracted to the outside of thehousing 00 is retracted into the second accommodation space 120, thestepped parts 130 may effectively block the table 200 from beingexcessively retracted into the first accommodation space 110.

Food or books may be placed on an upper surface of the table 200 when auser eats a simple meal or reads a book.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the table 200 is selectively extracted fromor retracted into the open front surface of the housing 100 or is tiltedupward after the extraction.

When the table 200 according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure is tilted upward, the upper surface of the table 200 iscontinuously connected to the upper surface of the garnish 500.

In detail, the table 200 is extracted from the housing 100 and is thentilted upward so that the upper surface thereof is continuouslyconnected to the upper surface of the garnish 500, and accordingly, thetable 200 can be used more widely together with the upper surface of thegarnish 500.

Thus, in the table 200 according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the passenger may utilize the large region of the table 200space for more activities, and objects placed on the upper surface ofthe table 200 may be also more stably positioned.

The table 200 includes a base part 210 and a handle part 220.

The base part 210 is realized as a quadrangular panel and is extractedfrom or retracted into the second accommodation space 120 or is tiltedupward after the extraction according to the needs of the passenger.

In detail, the base part 210 is accommodated in the second accommodationspace 120 of the housing 100 when the table 200 is not in use and isextracted from the second accommodation space 120 of the housing 100when the passenger needs to use the table 200.

Further, when the wider area of the table 200 needs to be used asneeded, the base part 210 is extracted from the second accommodationspace 120 of the housing 100 and is then tilted upwardly.

As shown in FIG. 5, a width W1 of the base part 210 is greater than awidth W2 of the first accommodation space 110 and is smaller than awidth W3 of the second accommodation space 120.

Thus, when the base part 210 is accommodated in the second accommodationspace 120, the rear surface of the base part 210 comes into contact withthe stepped parts 130.

That is, when the base part 210 is retracted into the secondaccommodation space 120, the base part 210 may be effectively blockedfrom being excessively retracted up to the first accommodation space110.

The handle part 220 is disposed on a front surface of the base part 210.

Further, when the table 200 is accommodated in the second accommodationspace 120, the handle 220 may seal the open front surface of the housing100.

As shown in FIG. 6, the operation member 300 has a lower surface fixedto the bottom surface of the housing 100 and an upper surface fixed to alower surface of the table 200.

That is, the operation member 300 is coupled to a lower surface of thebase part 210 of the table 200.

Further, the operation member 300 allows the table 200 to be extractedfrom, retracted into, or tilted upward from the housing 100.

In detail, the operation member 300 moves the table 200 to the secondaccommodation space 120 when the table 200 is not in use in a state inwhich the table 200 is extracted from the second accommodation space120, and moves the table 200 from the second accommodation space 120toward the passenger when the table 200 is used in a state in which thetable 200 is accommodated in the second accommodation space 120.

Further, when a user wants to use the table 200 more widely in a statein which the table 200 is extracted from the second accommodation space120, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation member 300 tilts the table 200upward, and thus an upper surface of the base part 210 and the uppersurface of the garnish 500 are continuously formed.

The operation member 300 includes a fixed rail 310, a movable rail 320,and a tilting link 330.

The fixed rail 310 is fixed to the bottom surface of the housing 100 andis fixed to cross the first accommodation space 110 and the secondaccommodation space 120 of the housing 100.

Further, two fixed rails 310 are formed to be spaced apart from eachother by a distance in a width direction of the housing 100.

Accordingly, the fixed rail 310 can stably support the table 200disposed thereon.

The fixed rail 310 includes a first body portion 311 and a guideprotrusion 313.

The first body portion 311 constitutes a body of the fixed rail 310 andis fixed to the bottom surface of the housing 100.

When viewed from below, the first body portion 311 is formed in a longrectangular shape to cross the first accommodation space 110 and thesecond accommodation space 120.

Further, first side walls 312 extend upward from two ends of the firstbody portion 311.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the guide protrusions 313 extend in alengthwise direction from the first side walls 312 formed at two ends ofthe first body portion 311 and protrude in two directions.

The guide protrusion 313 is slidably coupled to the movable rail 320.

The movable rail 320 is disposed on the lower surface of the table 200and is slidably coupled to the fixed rail 310.

That is, the movable rails 320 are located at positions corresponding tothe fixed rails 310 and are provided in the same number as the number ofthe fixed rails 310.

The movable rail 320 is slidably coupled to the fixed rail 310, and thusthe movable rail 320 slides in a direction crossing the firstaccommodation space 110 and the second accommodation space 120.

The movable rail 320 includes a second body portion 321 and a guidegroove 323.

The second body portion 321 constitutes a body of the movable rail 320and is disposed below the table 200 at a position corresponding to thefirst body portion 311.

Further, second side walls 322 extend downward from two ends of thesecond body portion 321.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the guide groove 323 extends in a lengthwisedirection from inner surfaces of the second side walls 322 formed at twoends of the second body portion 321.

Further, the guide protrusion 313 of the fixed rail 310 is slidablycoupled to the guide groove 323.

Accordingly, the movable rail 320 slides along the guide protrusion 313of the fixed rail 310 easily.

Meanwhile, the width of the movable rail 320 is greater than the widthof the fixed rail 310.

Accordingly, since the movable rail 320 supporting the table 200 has alarger area to support the lower surface of the table 200 than the fixedrail 310, when the table 200 is slid and moved along the fixed rail 310,the table can be firmly and stably supported.

Meanwhile, the movable rail 320 according to a second embodiment of thepresent disclosure may further include a support protrusion 324.

The support protrusion 324 is formed between the second side walls 322extending downward from the two ends of the second body portion 321 andhas an inner surface in contact with an outer surface of the first sidewall 312.

Accordingly, the support protrusion 324 may allow the fixed rail 310 andthe movable rail 320 to be firmly assembled with each other andeffectively prevent the movable rail 320 from escaping from the fixedrail 310.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the tilting link 330 may be formed in a shapeof a plurality of bars and is disposed on two sides of the movable rail320.

The tilting link 330 has one end rotatably coupled to the movable rail320 and the other end rotatably coupled to the lower surface of the basepart 210.

Meanwhile, a boss part 211 extends downward from the lower surface ofthe base part 210 to which the other end of the tilting link 330 iscoupled.

A total of four boss parts 211 may be formed to be spaced apart fromeach other by a distance in the lengthwise direction and the widthdirection.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the total of four boss parts 211 are formedat positions corresponding to vertexes of a quadrangular shape on thelower surface of the base part 210.

When a coupling structure of the tilting link 330, the table 200, andthe movable rail 320 is described in more detail, first, one end of thetilting link 330 is rotatably coupled to an outer surface of the secondside wall 322 of the movable rail 320.

Further, the other end of the tilting link 330 is rotatably coupled tothe boss part 211 extending downward from the lower surface of the basepart 210.

That is, the other end of the tilting link 330 is coupled to the lowersurface of the base part 210 through the boss parts 211.

When the one end of the tilting link 330 is rotated from a movable link,while the other end of the tilting link 330 is rotated from the bosspart 211, the tilting link 330 tilts the table 200 upward.

In this case, it is obvious that, when the table 200 is tilted upward,the length of the tilting link 330 is a length by which the uppersurface of the table 200 and the upper surface of the garnish 500 may becontinuously formed.

Hereinafter, an operation process of the vehicle table device accordingto the first embodiment of the present disclosure having the abovestructure will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 10 to 12 are operational diagrams showing an operation process ofthe vehicle table device according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10, the fixed rail 310 of the operation member 300 isfixed to the bottom surface of the housing 100, and the movable rail 320is rotatably coupled to a lower portion of the table 200.

Further, the fixed rail 310 and the movable rail 320 are coupled to eachother in a sliding manner.

Thus, when the table 200 is accommodated in the housing 100 disposed ata lower region than the garnish 500 inside the dashboard 400, as shownin FIG. 11, the table 200 may be easily extracted from the inside of thehousing 100 in a sliding manner according to the needs of the passenger.

Further, when a user wants to more widely use the table 200 extractedfrom the housing 100, the table 200 is tilted upward.

The one end of the tilting link 330 is rotatably coupled to the outersurface of the second side wall 322 of the movable rail 320, and theother end of the tilting link 330 is rotatably coupled to the boss part211 extending downward from the lower surface of the base part 210.

As shown in FIG. 12, when the one end of the tilting link 330 is rotatedfrom the movable link, while the other end of the tilting link 330 isrotated from the boss part 211, the tilting link 330 tilts the table 200upward.

When the table 200 is tilted upward, as the upper surface of the table200 and the upper surface of the garnish 500 are continuously connected,the area of the upper surface of the garnish 500 is added to the area ofthe table 200. Thus, the passenger may utilize the table 200 for moreactivities, and objects placed on the upper surface of the table 200 maybe more stably positioned.

Meanwhile, when a vehicle crash occurs while the table provided insidethe vehicle is extracted from the dashboard, an accident may occur dueto the table.

Further, in the case of a table to which an actuator is applied andwhich is operated by an electric method, a method is also applied inwhich a slip device is provided so that, when a certain load or moreoccurs, the table is retracted without operating the actuator. However,in this structure, when a sudden stop/collision occurs in a state inwhich the table is retracted, the table is unintentionally extracted,which may cause injury to the passenger.

In order to prevent this, the vehicle table device according to thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure may further include adriving unit.

Hereinafter, the operation member according to the second embodiment ofthe present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a vehicle table device accordingto a second embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 14 is an explodedperspective view showing a table in the vehicle table device accordingto the second embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 15 is aperspective view showing a driving unit of the vehicle table deviceaccording to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 16 isa front view showing a slip member and a driving pulley of the vehicletable device according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view showing anoperation member and the table of the vehicle table device according tothe second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 17, a vehicle table device according to thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing 100′, atable 200′, and an operation member 300′.

Meanwhile, a detailed description of the same configuration as thatdescribed in the above-described embodiments will be omitted so as notto make the subject matter of the present disclosure unclear.

The housing 100′ has two side surfaces and a rear surface that aresealed and a front surface that is open.

The table 200′ is accommodated in the housing 100′ and the housing 100′has an internal space including a first accommodation space 110′ and asecond accommodation space 120′.

When the housing 100′ is accommodated inside the dashboard, the firstaccommodation space 110′ is disposed in an internal direction (engineroom direction) of the dashboard, and the second accommodation space120′ is formed at one end (the passenger direction) of the firstaccommodation space 110′.

A width of the first accommodation space 110′ is smaller than a width ofthe second accommodation space 120′, and thus stepped parts 130′ areformed between two ends of the first accommodation space 110′ and twoends of the second accommodation space 120′.

When the table 200′ is accommodated in the second accommodation space120′, the stepped parts 130′ come into contact with a rear surface ofthe table 200′, and thus effectively block the table 200′ from beingexcessively retracted up to the first accommodation space 110′ when thetable 200′ that has been extracted to the outside of the housing 100′ isretracted into the second accommodation space 120′.

Food or books may be placed on an upper surface of the table 200′ when auser eats a simple meal or reads a book.

The table 200′ according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure is selectively extracted from or retracted into the openfront surface of the housing 100′.

The table 200′ includes a base part 210′, an extension part 220′, and ahandle part 230′.

The base part 210′ is formed as a quadrangular panel.

The base part 210′ is accommodated in the second accommodation space120′ of the housing 100′ when the table 200′ is not in use and isextracted from the second accommodation space 120′ of the housing 100′when the passenger needs to use the table 200′.

A width of the base part 210′ is greater than a width of the firstaccommodation space 110′ and is smaller than a width of the secondaccommodation space 120′, and thus when the base part 210′ isaccommodated in the second accommodation space 120′, a rear surface ofthe base part 210′ comes into contact with the stepped parts 130′.

That is, when the base part 210′ is retracted into the secondaccommodation space 120′, the base part 210′ may be effectively blockedfrom being excessively retracted up to the first accommodation space110′.

The extension part 220′ extends from the rear surface of the base part210′ and is accommodated in the first accommodation space 110′ when thetable 200′ is retracted into the housing 100′.

The extension part 220′ has a width that is smaller than the width ofthe first accommodation space 110′.

Accordingly, the extension part 220′ may be easily accommodated in thefirst accommodation space 110′ when the table 200′ is retracted into thehousing 100′.

The handle 230′ may be disposed on a front surface of the base part 210′and may seal the open front surface of the housing 100′ when the table200′ is accommodated in the second accommodation space 120′.

As shown in FIG. 14, the operation member 300′ is disposed between abottom surface of the housing 100′ and the table 200′.

Further, the operation member 300′ allows the table 200′ to be extractedfrom and retracted into the housing 100′.

The operation member 300′ includes a driving unit 310′, a fixed rail320′, and a movable rail 330′.

The driving unit 310′ is disposed between the bottom surface of thehousing 100′ and the table 200′ and generates power so that the table200′ is selectively extracted from and retracted into the housing 100′.

That is, when a signal is applied through a separate button or the likeaccording to selection of the passenger, the driving unit 310′ allowsthe table 200′ to be automatically extracted from and retracted into thehousing 100′.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the driving unit 310′ includes an actuator311′, a driving pulley 316′, a gear part 312′, a slip member 313′, adriven pulley 317′, and a transfer belt 318′.

The actuator 311′ is fixed to the first accommodation space 110′ of thehousing 100′ to generate power.

In more detail, the actuator 311′ is fixed to an end of the firstaccommodation space 110′ in a direction in which an engine room isdisposed.

The actuator 311′ generates power to automatically extract or retractthe table 200′ from and into the housing 100′.

The gear part 312′ is directly connected to the actuator 311′ andtransmits power generated from the actuator 311′ to the driving pulley316′.

The gear part 312′ includes a worm gear 312_1′ and a worm wheel gear312_2′.

The worm gear 312_1′ has one end fixed to the actuator 311′ and theother end engaged with the worm wheel gear 312_2′.

Thus, the worm gear 312_1′ receives power from the actuator 311′ togenerate a rotational force and transmits the rotational force to theworm wheel gear 312_2′.

The worm wheel gear 312_2′ is engaged with the worm gear 312_1′,receives, from the worm gear 312_1′, the power generated from theactuator 311′, and is thus rotated at a right angle with respect to theworm gear 312_1′.

The worm wheel gear 312_2′ rotates the slip member 313′ through thepower generated from the actuator 311′.

The slip member 313′ is disposed below the gear part 312′ and is coupledto the worm wheel gear 312_2′.

The slip member 313′ receives the power generated from the actuator 311′through the gear part 312′ to rotate.

The driving pulley 316′ is fixed to the first accommodation space 110′of the housing 100′, is disposed below the slip member 313′, and iscoupled to the slip member 313′.

The driving pulley 316′ receives the power of the actuator 311′ throughthe gear part 312′ and the slip member 313′ and is rotated by operatingthe actuator 311′.

That is, the driving pulley 316′ directly receives the power from theactuator 311′, thereby serving as a power source.

The driven pulley 317′ is fixed to a position spaced a predetermineddistance from the driving pulley 316′ in the first accommodation space110′ of the housing 100′.

The transfer belt 318′ spans between the driven pulley 317′ and thedriving pulley 316′, and the transfer belt 318′ is supported togetherwith the driving pulley 316′

The transfer belt 318′ has one end connected to the driving pulley 316′serving as a power source and the other end is connected to the drivenpulley 317′.

Further, the transfer belt 318′ is connected to the table 200′ in amiddle region.

That is, the transfer belt 318′ transfers the table 200′ according tothe rotation of the driving pulley 316′.

A fixing part 319′ is coupled to the transfer belt 318′.

The fixing part 319′ is coupled to the middle of the transfer belt 318′and is fixed to the extension part 220′ of the table 200′ in the engineroom direction.

The fixing part 319′ moves to a position close to the driving pulley316′ in a state in which the table 200′ is accommodated in the housing100′ and moves to a position close to the driven pulley 317′ in a statein which the table 200′ is extracted from the housing 100′.

That is, the fixing part 319′ allows the table 200′ to be transferred ina transfer direction of the transfer belt 318′.

Meanwhile, as described above, when a vehicle crash occurs while thetable 200′ is extracted from the dashboard, an accident may occur due tothe table 200′, and when a sudden stop/collision occurs in a state inwhich the table 200′ is retracted, the table 200′ is unintentionallyextracted, which may cause injury to the passenger.

Thus, in a state in which the table 200′ is accommodated in the housing100′, when an external force is applied to the table 200′ in thepassenger direction, the operation member 300′ according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure suppresses the table 200′ frombeing extracted from the housing 100′.

In contrast, in a state in which the table 200′ is extracted from thehousing 100′, when an external force is applied to the table 200′ in adirection of the housing 100′, the operation member 300′ allows thetable 200′ to be retracted into the housing 100′ in a non-poweredmanner.

To this end, in the second embodiment of the present disclosure, theslip member 313′ constituting the operation member 300′ blocks therotation of the gear part 312′ when an external force is applied to thetable 200′ in a direction of the passenger or in a direction of thehousing 100′.

As shown in FIG. 16, the slip member 313′ includes a first slip part313_1′, a second slip part 313_5′, a slip spring 314′, and a springsupport member 315′.

The first slip part 313_1′, which is disposed below the gear part 312′,includes a first cylindrical portion 313_2′, a first inclination portion313_3′, a first vertical portion 313_4′.

The first cylindrical portion 313_2′ constitutes a body of the firstslip part 313_1′ and has a circular shape when viewed from above.

The first inclination portion 313_3′ protrudes from a lower surface ofthe first cylindrical portion 313_2′ in a protruding shape inclined in acircumferential direction.

A plurality of first inclination portions 313_3′ are formed on the lowersurface of the first cylindrical portion 313_2′ in the circumferentialdirection and are inclined in the same direction.

The first vertical portion 313_4′ is formed on a side opposite to thefirst inclination portion 313_3′ formed on the lower surface of thefirst cylindrical portion 313_2′ in the circumferential direction.

Thus, when viewed from the side, the first inclination portion 313_3′and the first vertical portion 313_4′ are entirely formed in a toothedshape.

Further, the first inclination portion 313_3′ and the first verticalportion 313_4′ are engaged with each other.

The second slip part 313_5′, which is disposed below the first slip part313_1′, rotates together with the first slip part 313_1′ or slips fromthe first slip part 313_1′.

The second slip part 313_5′ includes a second cylindrical portion313_6′, a second inclination portion 313_7′, a second vertical portion313_8′.

The second cylindrical portion 313_6′ constitutes a body of the secondslip part 313_5′ and has a circular shape when viewed from above.

The second inclination portion 313_7′ protrudes from an upper surface ofthe second cylindrical portion 313_6′ in a protrusion shape inclined inthe circumferential direction to correspond to the first inclinationportion 313_3′.

A plurality of second inclination portions 313_7′ are formed on theupper surface of the second cylindrical portion 313_6′ in thecircumferential direction and are inclined in the same direction.

Further, the second inclination portions 313_7′ are in contact with theplurality of first inclination portions 313_3′, respectively.

The second vertical portion 313_8′ is formed on a side opposite to thesecond inclination portion 313_7′ formed on the upper surface of thesecond cylindrical portion 313_6′ in the circumferential direction.

Thus, when viewed from the side, the first inclination portion 313_3′and the first vertical portion 313_4′ are entirely formed in a toothedshape.

Further, the second vertical portions 313_8′ are in contact with theplurality of first vertical portions 313_4′, respectively.

That is, the second inclination portions 313_7′ are in contact with thefirst inclination portions 313_3′, and the second vertical portions313_8′ are in contact with the first vertical portions 313_4′.

The slip spring 314′, which is disposed below the second slip part313_5′, elastically supports the first slip part 313_1′.

Further, the spring support member 315′ is disposed between the secondslip part 313_5′ and a driving pulley 316′, has the slip spring 314′accommodated therein, and supports the slip spring 314′.

The fixed rails 320′ are disposed to be spaced apart from each other bya distance in the width direction of the housing 100′, are fixed to thebottom surface of the housing 100′, and are fixed to cross the firstaccommodation space 110′ and the second accommodation space 120′ of thehousing 100′.

The fixed rail 320′ includes a first body portion 321′ and a guideprotrusion 323′.

As shown in FIG. 17, the first body portion 321′ constitutes a body ofthe fixed rail 320′ and is formed in a long rectangular shape to crossthe first accommodation space 110′ and the second accommodation space120′ when viewed from below.

Further, two ends of the first body portion 321′ extend in a lengthwisedirection, and a first side wall 322′ having the guide protrusion 323′formed therein and protruding in opposite directions extends upward.

The movable rail 330′ is disposed at a position corresponding to thefixed rail 320′ so as to be slidably coupled to the fixed rail 320′ on alower surface of the table 200′.

The movable rail 330′ includes a second body portion 331′, a guidegroove 333′, and a support protrusion 334′.

As shown in FIG. 17, the second body portion 331′ constitutes a body ofthe movable rail 330′ and is formed in a long rectangular shape to crossthe first accommodation space 110′ and the second accommodation space120′.

Further, a second side wall 332′ having the guide groove 333′ extendingfrom an inner surface thereof in a lengthwise direction extends downwardfrom two ends of the second body portion 331′.

Further, the guide protrusion 323′ of the fixed rail 320′ is slidablycoupled to the guide groove 333′.

Accordingly, the movable rail 330′ easily slides along the guideprotrusion 323′ of the fixed rail 320′.

The support protrusion 334′ is formed between the second side walls 332′extending downward from the two ends of the second body portion 331′ andhas an inner surface in contact with an outer surface of the first sidewall 322′.

Accordingly, the support protrusion 334′ may allow the fixed rail 320′and the movable rail 330′ to be firmly assembled with each other andeffectively prevent the movable rail 330′ from escaping from the fixedrail 320′.

Hereinafter, an operation relationship of the vehicle table deviceaccording to the second embodiment of the present disclosure having theabove structure will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are views showing a state in which the slip member slipswhile the table of the vehicle table device according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure is extracted from a housing, andFIGS. 20 to 22 are views showing a state in which a gear part isself-locked while the table of the vehicle table device according to thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure is retracted into a housing.

First, referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, in a state in which the table 200′is extracted from the housing 100′, when power is generated by theactuator 311′, the power is transmitted to the gear part 312′.

Further, the power is transmitted to the first slip part 313_1′ disposedbelow the worm wheel gear 312_2′ of the gear part 312′ to rotate thefirst slip part 313_1′.

In this case, the first vertical portion 313_4′ of the first slip part313_1′ presses the second vertical portion 313_8′ abutting the firstvertical portion 313_4′.

Accordingly, the driving pulley 316′ connected to the second slip part313_5′ is rotated, and the table 200′ coupled to the driving pulley 316′is transferred to the inside of the housing 100′.

However, in a state in which the table 200′ is extracted from thehousing 100, when an external force greater than the tensile force ofthe slip spring 314′ is applied to the table 200′ in a direction of thehousing 100′, as shown in FIG. 19, a pressing force is generated toallow the second slip part 313_5′ to be pressed downward by a firstinclination surface of the first slip part 313_1′.

Further, the slip spring 314′ disposed below the second slip part 313_5′is elastically compressed by the pressing force of the second slip part313_5′, and thus the second slip part 313_5′ slips from the first slippart 313_1′.

That is, in the table 200′, as the slip spring 314′ is elasticallypressed by the second slip part 313_5′, the second slip part 313_5′ isseparated from the first slip part 313_1′, and thus a rotational forceof the driving pulley 316′ may be effectively blocked from beingtransmitted to the first slip part 313_1′.

Accordingly, when the table 200′ is retracted into the housing 100′, aload may be effectively blocked from being applied to the actuator 311′due to coupling between the slip member 313′ and the gear part 312′.

In contrast, referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, in a state in which the table200′ is accommodated in the housing 100′, when power is generated by theactuator 311′, the power is transmitted to the gear part 312′.

Further, the power is transmitted to the first slip part 313_1′ disposedbelow the worm wheel gear 312_2′ of the gear part 312′ to rotate thefirst slip part 313_1′.

In this case, the first inclination portion 313_3′ of the first slippart 313_1′ presses the second inclination portion 313_7′ abutting thefirst vertical portion 313_4′.

Accordingly, the driving pulley 316′ connected to the second slip part313_5′ is rotated and the table 200′ coupled to the driving pulley 316′is transferred to the outside of the housing 100′.

However, in a state in which the table 200′ is accommodated in thehousing 100′, when an external force greater than the rotational inertiaof the worm wheel gear 312_2′ is applied in the passenger direction, asshown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the second vertical part 313_8′ presses thefirst vertical part 313_4′.

Further, as the external force greater than the rotational inertia ofthe worm wheel gear 312_2′ is applied to the table 200′, a self-lockingphenomenon occurs between the worm wheel gear 312_2′ and the worm gear312_1′.

Thus, a vehicle table device in which the rotational force of thedriving pulley 316′ is blocked from being transferred to the actuator311′ is provided.

The rotation of the worm wheel gear 312_2′ and the worm gear 312_1′ isblocked due to the self-locking phenomenon, and thus the rotation of theactuator 311′ connected to the worm gear 312_1′ is also blocked.

That is, the table 200′ may be effectively blocked from being extractedto the outside of the housing 100′ due to the self-locking between theworm wheel gear 312_2′ and the worm gear 312_1′.

That is, due to the slip member 313′ according to the second embodimentof the present disclosure, when a vehicle crash occurs in a state inwhich the table 200′ is extracted from the housing 100′, the table 200′is easily retracted into the housing 100′, and when a vehicle crashoccurs in a state in which the table 200′ is retracted into the housing100′, the table 200′ is prevented from being extracted from the housing100′, and at the same time, a load may be effectively blocked from beingapplied to the actuator 311′.

Meanwhile, in a table according to the third embodiment, a virtualkeyboard may be activated.

Hereinafter, the virtual keyboard activated in the vehicle table deviceaccording to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 23 is a schematic view of a vehicle interior showing a position inwhich a vehicle table device according to a third embodiment of thepresent disclosure is mounted, and FIG. 24 is a perspective view showingthe vehicle table device according to the third embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 23 to 24, a vehicle table device according to thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure includes a monitor 401″, ahousing 100″, a table 200″, an operation member 300″, and a controller402″.

Meanwhile, a detailed description of the same configuration as thatdescribed in the above-described embodiments will be omitted so as notto make the subject matter of the present disclosure unclear.

The monitor 401″ outputs various pieces of information necessary for avehicle, such as audio, video, and navigation (AVN) of the vehicle.

Further, the monitor 401″ outputs information according to inputinformation of a virtual keyboard 201″ so that, in the vehicle, a usermay perform office work such as simple document work.

The monitor 401″ is coupled to a dashboard 400″ and may reciprocatebetween a passenger seat side region on the dashboard 400″ and a centerregion of the dashboard 400″.

The housing 100″ is accommodated in the dashboard 400″ and has an openfront surface.

The table 200″ is accommodated in the housing 100″ and is selectivelyextracted from and retracted into the front surface of the housing 100″.

The operation member 300″ is disposed between a bottom surface of thehousing 100″ and the table 200″ and thus the table 200″ is extractedfrom and retracted into the housing 100″.

The housing 100″, the table 200″, and the operation member 300″according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure have theconfiguration identical or similar to those according to the firstembodiment and the second embodiment of the present disclosure, and thusa detailed description will be omitted so as not to make the subjectmatter of the present disclosure unclear.

The controller 402″ selectively activates or deactivates the virtualkeyboard 201″ on an upper surface of the table 200″ extracted from thehousing 100″ according to selection of a user.

In detail, the controller 402″ activates, on the table 200″, a virtualkeyboard on/off button 202″ for activating or deactivating the virtualkeyboard 201″ on the table 200″.

Further, when a user touches the virtual keyboard on/off button 202″ ina state in which the table 200″ is extracted from the housing 100″ andthe monitor 401″ is located on a passenger side, the controller 402″activates the virtual keyboard 201″ on the upper surface of the table200″.

As a result, in the present disclosure, the virtual keyboard 201″ isactivated on the upper surface of the table 200″ in a state in which themonitor 401″ is located on the passenger side, and thus a user mayutilize the vehicle table device as a simple office work space in thevehicle through a multimedia input device function such as the monitor401″ and the virtual keyboard 201″.

Meanwhile, the monitor 401″ and the table 200″ may be operated through aseparate operation switch 500″.

The operation switch 500″ may be mounted at a position at which thedriver or passenger may easily perform the operation on the dashboard400″.

The operation switch 500″ includes a monitor movement switch 501″ and atable operation switch 502″.

The monitor movement switch 501″ may move the monitor 401″ between thedriver seat side and the passenger seat side or to the passenger side onthe dashboard 400″ according to selection of a user.

Further, the table operation switch 502″ may extract or retract thetable 200″ from or into the housing 100″ according to selection of auser.

Thus, the monitor 401″ and the table 200″ are operated through theoperation switch 500″.

Hereinafter, a method of controlling a virtual keyboard of a vehicletable device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosurewill be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 25 and 26 are flowcharts showing a method of controlling a virtualkeyboard of the vehicle table device according to the third embodimentof the present disclosure, FIG. 27 is a schematic view showing a statein which the virtual keyboard is activated on the table of the vehicletable device according to the third embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and FIG. 28 is a schematic view showing a state in which thevirtual keyboard is deactivated on the table of the vehicle table deviceaccording to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, referring to FIG. 25, the controller 402″ determines a state ofthe table 200″ accommodated in the housing 100″ (S100).

Operation S100 of determining the state of the table 200″ by thecontroller 402″ is an operation of determining whether or not the table200″ is retracted into or extracted from the housing 100″ accommodatedinside the dashboard 400″.

In operation S100 of determining the state of the table 200″ by thecontroller 402″, when the table 200″ is extracted from the housing 100″in the passenger direction, the controller 402″ determines the positionof the monitor 401″ (S200).

Operation S200 of determining the position of the monitor 401″ by thecontroller 402″ is an operation of determining whether the monitor 401″is located between the driver seat side and the passenger seat side onthe dashboard 400″, that is, in a center region of the dashboard 400″,or in the passenger seat side region.

In operation S200 of determining the position of the monitor 401″ by thecontroller 402″, when the monitor 401″ is located in the passenger seatside region, as shown in FIG. 27, the controller 402″ activates thevirtual keyboard 201″ on the table 200″ (S300).

As a result, in the present disclosure, the virtual keyboard 201″ isactivated on the upper surface of the table 200″ in a state in which themonitor 401″ is located on the passenger seat side region, and thus auser may utilize the vehicle table device as a simple office work spacein the vehicle through the monitor 401″ and the virtual keyboard 201″.

Further, referring to FIG. 26, in operation S300 of activating thevirtual keyboard 201″ on the table 200″, the controller 402″ activatesthe virtual keyboard on/off button 202″ on the upper surface of thetable 200″ (S310).

Further, the controller 402″ determines whether or not the activatedvirtual keyboard on/off button 202″ is touched (S320).

When a user touches the virtual keyboard on/off button 202″ activated onthe upper surface of the table 200″, the controller 402″ deactivates thevirtual keyboard 201″ on the table 200″ (S330).

Operation S320 of determining whether or not the virtual keyboard on/offbutton 202″ is touched by the controller 402″ is an operation ofdetermining whether to activate or deactivate the virtual keyboard 201″on the table 200″.

That is, when the virtual keyboard on/off button 202″ is touchedaccording to selection of a user in a state in which the virtualkeyboard 201″ is activated on the upper surface of the table 200″, asshown in FIG. 28, the virtual keyboard 201″ implemented on the uppersurface of the table 200″ is deactivated.

As a result, the virtual keyboard 201″ may be blocked from beingunintentionally activated on the upper surface of the table 200″, andfood or books for a simple meal or reading may be placed on the uppersurface of the table 200″.

Meanwhile, referring back to FIG. 25, in operation S200 of determiningthe position of the monitor 401″, when the monitor 401″ is located noton the passenger side but between the driver seat side and the passengerseat side, that is, in the center region of the dashboard 400″, as shownin FIG. 29, the controller 402″ deactivates the virtual keyboard 201″and the virtual keyboard on/off button 202″ on the table 200″ (S210).

As a result, food or books for a simple meal or reading may be placed onan upper surface of the table 200″.

Meanwhile, the activation refers to the implementation of the virtualkeyboard 201″ on the upper surface of the table 200″ by a projector403″.

The projector 403″ implements the virtual keyboard 201″ on the uppersurface of the table 200″ in an infrared manner and recognizes a handgesture of a user using a sensing function of an infrared cameraconstituting the projector 403″.

The recognized input information of the virtual keyboard 201″ istransmitted to the monitor 401″ through Bluetooth or the like.

The activation has been described as implementing the virtual keyboard201″ on the upper surface of the table 200″ through the projector 403″,but the upper surface of the table 200″ may be realized as a touchscreen.

Further, the controller 402 may include a table state determination unitthat determines a state of the table 200″ and a monitor positiondetermination unit that determines the position of the monitor 401″.

That is, the table state determination unit determines whether the table200″ is extracted from the housing 100″ or retracted into the housing100″.

Hereinafter, a method of controlling a virtual keyboard of a vehicletable device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosurewill be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 30 to 31 are flowcharts showing a method of controlling a virtualkeyboard of a vehicle table device according to a fourth embodiment ofthe present disclosure, and FIGS. 32 and 33 are schematic views showinga state in which the virtual keyboard is activated or deactivated in thetable for each situation of the vehicle table device according to thefourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, referring to FIG. 30, the controller 402″ determines a state ofthe table 200″ accommodated inside the housing 100″ (S1100).

In operation S1100 of determining the state of the table 200″ by thecontroller 402″, when the table 200″ is extracted from the housing 100″in the passenger direction, the controller 402″ determines the positionof the monitor 401″ (S1200).

In operation S1200 of determining the position of the monitor 401″ bythe controller 402″, when the monitor 401″ is located in the passengerseat side region, as shown in FIG. 28, the controller 402″ activates thevirtual keyboard on/off button 202″ on the table 200″ (S1300).

Further, the controller 402″ determines whether or not the activatedvirtual keyboard on/off button 202″ is touched (S1400).

When a user touches the virtual keyboard on/off button 202″ activated onthe upper surface of the table 200″, as shown in FIG. 27, the controller402″ activates the virtual keyboard 201″ on the table 200″ (S1500).

As a result, in the present disclosure, the virtual keyboard 201″ isactivated on the upper surface of the table 200″ in a state in which themonitor 401″ is located on the passenger side, and thus a user mayutilize the vehicle table device as a simple office work space in thevehicle through a multimedia input device function such as the monitor401″ and the virtual keyboard 201″.

In particular, in operation S1300 of activating the virtual keyboardon/off button 202″ on the table 200″, whether or not the virtualkeyboard on/off button 202″ is activated may be selected in advancebefore the virtual keyboard 201″ is activated, thus when a user eats asimple meal or reads a book on the upper surface of the table 200″, thevirtual keyboard 201″ can be prevented from being accidentally touched.

As a result, the virtual keyboard 201″ may be blocked from beingunintentionally activated on the upper surface of the table 200″ inadvance, and food or books for a simple meal or reading may be placed onthe upper surface of the table 200″.

Further, referring to FIG. 31, operation S1500 of activating the virtualkeyboard 201″ on the table 200″ by the controller 402″ may includeoperation S1510 of determining the position of the monitor 401″ by thecontroller 402″.

In operation S1510 of determining the position of the monitor 401″ bythe controller 402″, when the monitor 401″ is located between the driverseat side and the passenger seat side, that is, the center region of thedashboard 400″, as shown in FIG. 32, the controller 402″ activates thevirtual keyboard on/off button 202″ on the table 200″ (S1520).

Further, the controller 402″ determines whether or not the activatedvirtual keyboard on/off button 202″ is touched (S1530).

In operation S1530 of determining whether or not the activated virtualkeyboard on/off button 202″ is touched by the controller 402″, when thevirtual keyboard on/off button 202″ is touched, as shown in FIG. 29, thecontroller 402″ deactivates the virtual keyboard 201″ on the table 200″(S1540).

Thus, according to a situation, the table 200″ may be retracted into thehousing 100″, and food or books for a simple meal or reading may beplaced on the upper surface of the table 200″.

However, in operation S1530 of determining whether or not the activatedvirtual keyboard on/off button 202″ is touched by the controller 402″,when the virtual keyboard on/off button 202″ is not touched, as shown inFIG. 33, even in a state in which the monitor 401″ is moved to thecenter of the dashboard 400″, the virtual keyboard 201″ activated on theupper surface of the table 200″ may be maintained in an activated state.

As a result, in a state in which the virtual keyboard 201″ is activatedon the upper surface of the table 200″, the monitor 401″ may be disposedbetween the driver seat side and the passenger seat side, that is, inthe center region of the dashboard 400″, and thus even in a state inwhich the virtual keyboard 201″ is activated on the upper surface of thetable 200″, a driver may easily identify contents output on the monitor401″.

Meanwhile, referring back to FIG. 30, in operation S1200 of determiningthe position of the monitor 401″ by the controller 402″, when themonitor 401″ is located between the driver seat side and the passengerseat side, that is, the center region of the dashboard 400″, as shown inFIG. 29, the controller 402″ deactivates the virtual keyboard on/offbutton 202″ on the table 200″ (S1210).

Thus, as the virtual keyboard 201″ and the virtual keyboard on/offbutton 202″ are deactivated, when a user eats a simple meal or reads abook on the upper surface of the table 200″, accidental touching of thevirtual keyboard on/off button 202″ can be prevented.

As a result, the virtual keyboard 201″ may be blocked from beingunintentionally activated on the upper surface of the table 200″, andfood or books for a simple meal or reading may be placed on the uppersurface of the table 200″.

According to the present disclosure, when a table is extracted from ahousing and a user touches a virtual keyboard on/off button in a statein which a monitor is located on a passenger seat side, a virtualkeyboard is activated on an upper surface of the table, and thus thetable can be used as a simple office space in a vehicle through amultimedia input device function of the monitor and the virtualkeyboard.

Further, by touching the virtual keyboard on/off button according toselection of a user, an undesired virtual keyboard can be blocked frombeing activated on the upper surface of the table, and foods or booksfor a simple meal or reading can be placed on the upper surface of thetable.

In this way, the embodiments disclosed in the present specificationshould be considered not in a limiting viewpoint but in an exemplaryviewpoint. The scope of the present disclosure is indicated not in theabove description but in the appended claims, and all differences withinthe scope equivalent thereto should be construed as being included inthe present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle table device comprising: a monitor thatis coupled to a dashboard and configured to reciprocate between apassenger seat side region on the dashboard and a center region of thedashboard; a housing that is accommodated inside the dashboard and hasan open front surface; a table that is accommodated in the housing andis selectively extracted from or retracted into the front surface of thehousing; an operation member that is disposed between a bottom surfaceof the housing and the table and configured to extract or retract thetable from or into the housing; and a controller configured to activateor deactivate a virtual keyboard on an upper surface of the extractedtable.
 2. The vehicle table device of claim 1, wherein the controlleractivates, on the table, a virtual keyboard on/off button for activatingor deactivating the virtual keyboard on the table, when the table isextracted from the housing and the monitor is located on the passengerseat side.
 3. The vehicle table device of claim 2, wherein thecontroller activates the virtual keyboard on the table when the table isextracted from the housing and the virtual keyboard on/off button istouched in a state in which the monitor is located on the passenger seatside.
 4. A method of controlling a virtual keyboard of a vehicle tabledevice, the method comprising: determining a state of a tableaccommodated inside a housing by a controller; determining a position ofa monitor by the controller when, in the determining of the state of thetable, the table is determined to be extracted from the housing; andactivating a virtual keyboard on the table by the controller when, inthe determining of the position of the monitor, the monitor isdetermined to be located on a passenger seat side.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the determining of the state of the table includesdetermining whether the table is retracted into or extracted from thehousing.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining of theposition of the monitor includes determining whether or not the monitoris located between a driver seat side and the passenger seat side on adashboard or in a passenger seat side region.
 7. The method of claim 4,wherein the activating of the virtual keyboard on the table includes:activating a virtual keyboard on/off button on the table by thecontroller; determining whether or not the virtual keyboard on/offbutton is touched; and deactivating the virtual keyboard on the tablewhen, in the determining of whether or not the virtual keyboard on/offbutton is touched, the virtual keyboard on/off button is determined tobe touched.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining of whetheror not the virtual keyboard on/off button is touched includesdetermining whether to activate or deactivate the virtual keyboard onthe table.
 9. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining of theposition of the monitor includes deactivating the virtual keyboard and avirtual keyboard on/off button by the controller when, in thedetermining of the position of the monitor, the monitor is determined tobe located between the driver seat side and the passenger seat side. 10.The method of claim 4, wherein the activating includes implementing thevirtual keyboard on an upper surface of the table through an infraredray of a projector.
 11. The method of claim 4, wherein an upper surfaceof the table is configured as a touch screen.
 12. A method ofcontrolling a virtual keyboard of a vehicle table device, the methodcomprising: determining a state of a table accommodated in a housing bya controller; determining a position of a monitor by the controllerwhen, in the determining of the state of the table, the table isdetermined to be extracted from the housing; activating a virtualkeyboard on/off button on the table by the controller when, in thedetermining of the position of the monitor, the monitor is determined tobe located on a passenger seat side; determining whether or not thevirtual keyboard on/off button is touched by the controller; andactivating a virtual keyboard on the table by controller when, in thedetermining of whether or not the virtual keyboard on/off button istouched, the virtual keyboard on/off button is determined to be touched.13. The method of claim 12, wherein the activating of the virtualkeyboard on the table includes: determining the position of the monitorby the controller; activating the virtual keyboard on/off button in anupper part of the table by the controller when, in the determining ofthe position of the monitor, the monitor is determined to be locatedbetween a driver seat side and the passenger seat side; determiningwhether or not the virtual keyboard on/off button is touched; anddeactivating the virtual keyboard and the virtual keyboard on/off buttonby the controller when, in the determining of whether or not the virtualkeyboard on/off button is touched, the virtual keyboard on/off button isdetermined to be touched.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein theactivating of the virtual keyboard on the table further includesdeactivating the virtual keyboard on/off button in the upper part of thetable by the controller when, in the determining of whether or not thevirtual keyboard is activated on the table, the virtual keyboard isdetermined to be deactivated on the table.
 15. The method of claim 12,wherein the determining of the position of the monitor includesdeactivating the virtual keyboard and the virtual keyboard on/off buttonby the controller when, in the determining of the position of themonitor, the monitor is determined to be located between the driver seatside and the passenger seat side.